Rodriguez and Barnes help West Brom go second despite late drama at Ipswich

Harvey Barnes scores West Brom’s second goal with 13 minutes remaining – but his side were clinging on in the closing stages.
Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images

West Brom manager Darren Moore praised his side for their “accomplished performance” as they moved up to second in the Championship following a 2-1 victory over struggling Ipswich, thanks to goals from Jay Rodriguez and Harvey Barnes at Portman Road.

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Ipswich striker Kayden Jackson pulled a goal back in the 85th minute as the hosts threatened to take something from the game, while fellow substitute Jack Lankester saw his stoppage-time free-kick strike the post. The result leaves the home side five points adrift at the bottom of the table without a win in their last six matches and still searching for their first home victory this season.

The visitors broke the deadlock after 26 minutes through Rodriguez, who was well placed to tuck home Kieran Gibbs’s header following a cross from Matt Phillips. Ipswich made a mess of a corner after 77 minutes and West Brom countered as Matt Phillips found Barnes, who cut inside Jordan Spence and squeezed the ball into the bottom corner.

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The hosts were given a lifeline when Jackson pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining. On-loan Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo failed to control the ball in the penalty area and the Ipswich forward had the easiest of chances to put the ball in the net before Lankester’s stoppage-time free-kick clipped the post and went wide.

Moore added: “We scored two very good goals tonight and whatever it may be, young Tosin will learn from it. It’s a good one to learn from, it didn’t cost us the three points and it will stand him in good stead because I thought he had a fantastic game tonight.

Ipswich manager Paul Lambert said: “We were up against a really top, top side that has just been relegated and has not lost many players. We went toe-to-toe with them and in the second half I thought we were outstanding and judging by the fans reactions, they got right behind them.

“We’ve got a really young side. West Brom are a top side but we were absolutely brilliant. Every game I’ve been involved with they have given me everything and I am absolutely delighted with how they played.”